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The Eurasia Partnership Capstone (EPC) 2012 multinational exercise has begun in Souda Bay, Greece, aimed at boosting maritime capabilities between participating nations.
More than 80 representatives from Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Romania, Ukraine and the US will share information and develop productive relationships as part of the EPC 2012 exercise.
During the week-long training event, hosted by the US Navy, participating personnel will conduct diving exercises, ship rider exchanges, port visits, staff talks, and senior leader engagements.
In order to enhance maritime safety and security, the Eurasian Partnership Capstone drill also enables participants to work jointly in informal environments such as seminars and workshops.
Non-commissioned officers will participate in the workshops, which include security activities such as maritime law enforcement, marine environmental protection, and leadership development courses.
Ukrainian Navy commander Roman Honcharenko said that the annual training exercise was expected to assist the nations in preparing for future events.
US Naval Forces Europe Eurasia Partnership programme director lieutenant Joshua Aisen added: "We might not solve all the problems of maritime interoperability, but we will at least have a greater understanding of those challenges by the end of the week."
The exercise is intended to enhance and improve maritime security through workshops focused on areas such as maritime law enforcement, maritime search and rescue, maritime environmental protection, leadership development courses for non-commissioned officers.
Co-hosted by the armed forces of Malta, EPC 2011 saw participation from more than 100 multinational naval and coast guard representatives and also involved advanced network-enabled maritime interdiction operations for the first time.
Image: USNS Grasp ship conducting mission as part of Eurasian Partnership Dive 2012 exercise. Photo: US Navy photo by mass communication specialist 2nd class Daniel Viramontes/Released.
